Determinants of Under Nutrition Among Children in Northern Uganda:2000

This study aimed at establishing the rate of under nutrition among children from northern Uganda and factors that contributed to it in the period 2000-2001. Data on children of mothers within the reproductive ages that was obtained from the UDHS 2000-2001 with a sample size of 1,041 from eight districts of Northern Uganda was studied. Under nutrition status was assessed for wasting, stunting and underweight. Most children received food supplements when aged 4-6 months. Results showed that 32.7 percent of the children were stunted, 27 % underweight and 10.2 % wasted. The rate of stunting reduced as birth order increased from 2 to 6+ and children in birth order 2-3 were least (22.6 %) underweight. There was association between birth order and wasting. Stunting and wasting increased as age of children increased. Children who received food supplement before the age of four months (7.7 %) were wasted and underweight, while the majority introduced to food supplements aged 4-6 months were under nourished. The risks that children suffered from underweight reduced with increased maternal education. Male children had lower risks of suffering from underweight and stunting.